Humidor



Nov.V 3, 1931. l.. LICLVARK 1,830,591

HUMIDOR Filed March 27. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Nov. 3, 1931. L. l.. CLARK j 1,830,591

HUMIDOR Filed March 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY n Patented Nov. 3; 1931 i A1,830,59i

UNITED STATI-:s

LAUREL L. CLARK, F CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA HUMIDOR My present invention has reference toa. method and means for preserving cigars 1n the state and condition of their manufacture for an indefinite period of time, regardless of '5 the climatic changes to which the cigars are subjected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a humidor container for cigars, of M a simple and cheap construction which will 'I0 retain the cigars in a fresh condition for an indenite period of time independent of other means of protection, and which will require no attention on the part of manufacturer and dealer from the time cigars are placed in containers and sealed at the place of manufacture until unsealed by retailer or consumer.

A further object is the provision of a water and air tight humidor container for cigars so constructed that the moisture content permeating the cigars when placed in the humidor container and sealed at the place of manufacturer, will be retained, improved and kept equally distributed throughout container and contents, blended with the fragrance of Spanish cedar wood, considered so essential in cigar containers by all cigar manufacturers.

A further object is the provision of a humidiiier container for cigars in which cigars tightly hunched in statutory numbers are yieldably supported, and in which is provided space around the entire package of cigars for the *purpose of conveying and equally distributing humidity without coming in direct contact with the cigars; thus insuring the cigars against must and mold, or any chance of adulteration.

A further object is the provision in a humidor' container for cigars, of means for addingvmoisture when desired to the humidor without exposing the cigars in the humidor to exterior atmospheric influence.

A still further object is the provision in a humidor container for cigars, of a cap' for such humidor engageable with the humidor in a manner topaord an air andwater tight joint therebetweenfand which capV has removably secured thereto and spaced there- 5 from an absorbent disc of aromaticf'propv Application. led March. 27, 1928. Seria-1 No. 265,058. y

ings which `form part of the application,

with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, suchchanges and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an approximately central verticallongitudinal sectional view through my improvement.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged jdetail sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig, ure l. l c f Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of thelower portion of the fibre receptacle.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view approximately on the line 5 5 of Figure 3. 'Figure 6is an inverted plan view of the cap or lid. y

Figure 7 is a section approximately on the line 7%-7 'of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a central longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of cap or lid.

Figure 9 is an inverted plan view thereof.

Figure l() is a plan view of the humidor container shapedto provide a shippingcase, the cap or lid being removed.

F igurerll is a detail sectional view apf proximately on the line 11--l1 of Figure 10. i

vThe outer member `or casing of my improvement is of tin orlilre metal, and the cylindrical bottom thereof is indicated inthe `drawings by thenumeral 1. The bottom is slightly elevated above the lower edge of the l.

'casing and the said bottom from its juncture with the casing, is flared inwardly and downwardly for a determined distance, as indicated by the numeral 2. This flared portion 2, throughout its circumference is formed with equidistantly spaced grooves or depressions 2, the purpose of which will presently be apparent. The bottom, from the iiared edge thereof is lbowed or rounded upwardly to the center thereof, as indicated by the numeral 8.

The casing 1, adjacent .to its openmouth Vis formed with an exterior groove, provided by depressing the said casing inwardly/andy this groove forms a pocket forcan elastic o other compressible band 'washer 4.

Arranged in the cylindrical body 1 of the casing there is a fibre receptacle. The inner face of this receptacle is indicated by the numeral 5. The outer face of the round or cylindrical body 5 of the receptacle is formed, or preferably has secured thereon a strip of corrugated material which 'is also of fibre. This corrugated strip is yindicated by the numeral 6 yand the outer facesV of the corrugations contact with the inner wall of the casing. The receptacle 5 Ais of a less length than the casing 1, the corrugations extending below the lower edge of the said casing, and

, these portions of the corrugated strip 6 are beveled, as at 7, (see Fig. 4). n A The bottom'of the receptacle is .in the nature of a fibre disc 8. This ldisc, `on -its outer or lower face is formed with or has secured thereon aucontinuous corrugated sheet 9. The outer wallsprovided by the corrugated sheet 9 rest on the inwardly bowedbottom 1 of the casing. The bevelededges of the corrugated outer face 6 `of the receptacle 5 rest on the straight portions 10 outward of the grooves 2 on the bottom 1. p

When cigars are freshly made they are moist) and pliable and when in this ycondition they are pressedtogether with vconsiderable force and are placed in containers with but little room for expansion, leaving them so tightly pressed together that no air space is left therebetween. When Ythus put up in air-tight metal containers in which cigars stand perpendicularly there is no means for ventilation from the middle of the package to the bottom thereof and unless such provision is made either for absorption or ventilation there is danger of the bottom of the cigars molding and for this reason most all of the i manufacturers using cans for containers punch holes through the bottom of such containers for Ventilating the cigars therein. This, of-course, results in the drying vof the cigars shortly after they leave the factory. Cigars freshly made are hunched as above described, are placed in the receptacle 5 and, of course, rest on the bottom disc 8 of the receptacle.` -I now arrange in the receptacle and in direct contact with the upper ends of the cigars .1.1 aiibredisc This disc is suband"th'e'fbottom of the flange resting on or in *ingmale member 17of a snap catch. The

Atening of the absorbent disc 19, it being noted stantially similar to the disc 8 having on its outer or upper face a corrugated strip or disc 13. Y

The lid or cover for the casing and the receptacle is of metal and comprises aflanged member 14. The fiange of the lid or cover is in frictional contact with the rubber. or elastic gasket 4,= the top ofthe cover contacting with the beaded mouth 15 of the receptacle `close'proximity to a shoulder 16 formed by inwardly bending the metal casing at the mouth yportion thereof. The lid or cover 14, on the center thereof has Afixed the inwardly extend- 8 0 female member 18 ofthe snap catch islet through a central opening in a disc 19 of ab. sorbent and aromatic property. The'disc 19 is preferably formed ofSpanish cedarwood. By reference to Figure 7 of the drawings it will be noted that the male member 17 of the clasp is provided with both inner and outer heads and that the female member 18 of the clasp is formed with a hollow disc portion 20 that rests `on the top of the disc 19, and that the head of theV male member is engaged by springs 21 that enter the central opening in the part 2O of the femalemember. While this is of the ordinary construction it aflords both an air and water tight joint ybetween the lid or cover and the .interior of the casing. and receptacle which provide the humidor container. The lid or cover may be readily and temporarily removed to permit of the moisthat the arrangement of the catch elements space the disc from contact with the lidA of the container. The moisture from theabsorbent .disc 19 creates a humid condition around the top, sides and bottom of the fiber receptacle 5 to a degree that permeates the receptacle in the nature of absorption, which process retards evaporation of the moisture-content kof the cigars without coming in direct contact with them, which is the means by which the original freshness and aroma of cigars are kept intact and free from all danger of adulteration, mustor mold. With the improvement the container will remain sealed asit left the place of manufacture until un- 31h15 sealed by retailer or consumer,.after which the absorbent disc need be moistened only at eX- tended intervals; as a matter of fact, the amount of Vmoisture requiredfor thehumidor depends largely on atmospheric andrclimatic @.20 conditions in general and heatingseason in particular. It will be noted vthat Vwhen the disc is removed for moistening, the cigars in the ycontainer will not be'subjected to light or atmospheric changes as it requires only a very 11.25 short space of time for removing, moistening and replacing the disc to the c0ver,and rearranging the cover on the casing.

In Figures 8 and 9 Thave illustrated a fianged Lcap or: lid S21` forme'd,adjacent to 4?9 its outer edge with a continuous groove providing the said cap or lid with an inner rib 22 against which the absorbent aromatic disc 23 rests. The disc 23 is square in plan, in contradiction to the hexagonal disc disclosed in the remaining figures of the drawings. In this connection I desire to state that I do not wish to be restricted to the precise formation of the absorbent discs, but preferably provide the same with corners so as to insure a circulation of moisture between the top of the lids and the said discs.

In Figures 10 and 1l the metal casing is indicated by the numeral 24. This casing is of a materially greater size than the casing 1. The casing has round ends and straight or flat sides and is centrally formed on its top with a round opening in which is received the cupped or beaded peripheral edge portion 25 that depends from the top of the lid or cover 26. The lid or cover has secured on its inner face bysnap fasteners as 'heretofore described an absorbent disc 27. The casing 24 is employed as a shipping casing, and by reference to Figure 10 of the drawings it will be seen that a large number of bunched and wrapped cigars may be arranged therein.

The scientific principle underlying all the forms of my improvement and its future success is based on an economical means by whichV the moisture content and aromatic elements of tobacco as contained in fresh cigars, may be confined and retained for an indefinite period of time without attention, and with all danger of must and mold removed, which has never been successfully overcome in the use of air tight metal containers for fresh cigars. All

of these desirable features in cigar containers is claimed for my improvement as a result of introducing a well known scientific principle in combination with air tight metal containers, which provide both, a means of absorption and circulation; absorption in its pull on any available source of moisture puts circulation in motion, causing the humidity created by the moisture content of fresh cigars to be equally distributed throughout the humidor container and its contents. To understand the simple construct-ion of the improvement and the scientific principle involved, is to know how cigars in humidor containers are preserved in their original purity, freshness and aroma regardless of weather conditions in the different seasons of the year in all climates, in all conditions of storage and transportation, steam heated stores andso on. The humidor container is an insurance against damage by water and smoke in case of fire, and all manner of contamination that may be encountered between manufacturer and consumer. The improvement complies with all the internal revenue regulations, as the revenue stamp may be attached to the casing and to the lid thereof, or to the packages of cigars in the shipping case.

lengths from sheets of material and thereafter rounded upon itself to fity into casings of different sizes. faces of the discs 8 and 12 not only provide air spaces therebetween but permit of yielding of the said discs so that the same will not eXert undue pressure against the cigars 11 and consequently will inflict no injury to the ends of the cigars. Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A humidor for cigars comprising an outer metal casing having a bottom characterized by a circumferential flared portion provided with spaced grooves therein, an inner fibre receptacle, means for supporting the bottom of the liber receptacle spaced above the bottom ofthe metal receptacle, and a member surrounding the inner receptacle and formed with corrugations for spacing the receptacle from the outer casing and providing air ducts between said parts, the lower ends of said corrugations reposing upon the bottom of the outer casing outwardly of said grooves, whereby the latter provi-de for the circulation-of air from said ducts beneath the bottom of the inner receptacle. Y

2. A humidor for cigars comprising an outer lnetal casing, including a bottom characterized by a circumferential flared portion, an inner fibre receptacle, a member surrounding the inner receptacle and corrugated to space the respective receptacles and to provide air ducts between said part-s, and a corrugated member carri-ed by the bottom of the inner receptacle for spacing the latter from the bottom of the outer casing, said lastk mentioned corrugated member terminating inwardly from the circumferential edge of the bottom of the inner receptacle to establish communication between the air ducts of the first corrugated member and those of the second mentioned corrugated member through the space defined about the lower edge of the inner receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LAUREL L. CLARK.

The corrugated outer` 

